Wednesday, November 14, 2012

The Yoga of moving from gross to subtle

There are many definitions of Yoga available in many sacred books. It is very good and useful to know them, especially for those whose intellects have been trained to analyse things relentlessly. Having been on that path for a while, I really respect and value the formal definitions given in the yoga sutras, gita etc. But, over a period of time, one also evolves an informal definition based on ones life experiences. This evolved informal understanding is very important as it is the solution that one produces by oneself through ones life.

For me, right now, Yoga is the process of moving from gross aspects of things to more and more refined and subtle aspects. A few examples will help communicate this clearly.

Consider some dimension of ones life - say entertainment, the kind where you want to spend a few hours without having to worry about the regular mundane things. The average person seeks such entertainment in cinema, sports, television, company of friends etc. The varying kinds of such entertainment can be placed on a scale where one end is gross and the other end is subtle. B-grade cinema can be considered to be grosser than classical music. Singing / dancing oneself can be considered to be subtler than listening to others performing. Sitting silently and being in bliss can be considered to be the subtlest form of entertainment. Of course, the exact ordering of the varying forms of entertainment depends on the individual. But, in general, that which consumes more energy from the individual can be considered to be gross while that which energises the individual, can be considered to be subtle. Based on this, one can come up with ones own ordering.

Like entertainment, there are many other dimensions of ones life where the same principle can be applied - physical fitness, relationships, inner peace / compassion when under stress, ones contribution to society, self knowledge etc. For example, knowledge of ones body (what foods are agreeable and what one is not etc) is gross level self knowledge. Realisation of ones essential nature is self-knowledge at the subtlest. The more dimensions of life we move from gross to subtle, the less energy is dissipated and the more energy is retained within the individual. For example, eating regularly at a road side eatery will have health consequences and more energy (physical / mental / financial) will have to be spent to deal with these consequences. But, if one pays attention to what / where we eat, energy may not have to be spent in dealing with many of the health consequences. This reserve energy that one builds up can then be used for better and higher purposes. This re-allocation of domains in which ones energy is spent leads to a tremendous transformation in the individual and this leads to that higher states of consciousness that many of the sacred books describe. For most of us, in my opinion, there really is no other way but to do this - continuous transformation from gross to subtle on many dimensions of ones life!

This movement from gross to subtle will take lot of effort only for the first few dimensions we embark upon. After that, the momentum / energy already gained will help do this transformation much easily in other dimensions.

Friday, November 09, 2012

Some Buddhist poetry I liked


Source: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/


Wandering for alms -
weak, leaning on a staff,
with trembling limbs -
I fell down right there on the ground.
Seeing the drawbacks of the body,
my mind was then set free.

Calmed, restrained,
giving counsel unruffled,
he lifts off evil states of mind -
as the breeze,
a leaf from a tree.

See this:
the discernment
of the Tathagatas,
like a fire ablaze in the night,
giving light, giving eyes,
to those who come,
subduing their doubt.

My hut is roofed, comfortable,
free of drafts;
my mind, well-centered,
set free.
I remain ardent.
So, rain-deva.
Go ahead & rain.

Just as a fine thoroughbred steed,
with swishing tail & mane
runs with next-to-no effort,
so my days & nights
run with next-to-no effort
now that I've gained a happiness
not of the flesh.

Who scatters the troops
of the King of Death -
as a great flood,
a very weak bridge made of reeds -
is victorious,
for his fears are dispersed.
He's tamed,
unbound,
steadfast in himself.

Some awesome tamil poetry!

துறந்தாரின் தூய்மை யுடையர் இறந்தார்வாய்
இன்னாச்சொல் நோற்கிற் பவர்.
Those who bear with the uncourteous speech of the insolent are as pure as the ascetics.

-- Really wish I could develop this quality perfectly!!



வானாகி மண்ணாகி வளியாகி ஒளியாகி
ஊனாகி உயிராகி உண்மையுமாய் இன்மையுமாய்
கோனாகி யான் எனது என்று அவரவரைக் கூத்தாட்டு
வாளாகி நின்றாயை என் சொல்லி வாழ்த்துவனே!


As sky, as earth, as wind, as sky
As body, as life, as truth, as negation
As boss who destroys the ego
You stand as light, how shall I praise you!



குனித்த புருவமும், கொவ்வைச் செவ் வாயில் குமிண் சிரிப்பும்
பனித்த சடையும் பவளம் போல் மேனியில் பால் வெண்ணீறும்
இனித்த முடைய எடுத்த பொற் பாதமும் காணப்பெற்றால்
மனித்தப் பிறவியும் வேண்டுவதே இந்த மாநிலத்தே!


Curved brows, lips as red as the little guard holding a tender smile
Snow draped hair, pearl like body showered with milk,
Along with the attractive golden feet when I get to see
Having a human life indeed becomes worthwhile!

Thursday, November 08, 2012

Balu thevar moment

Someone remarked in some random context - "One must face many 'dharma sankata' (ethically/morally tricky) situations in life, struggle with them, do many mistakes and learn that one is not the great person that one thinks oneself to be".

Hearing it was an intense slap on the face. :)
Balu thevar moment :D

Tuesday, November 06, 2012

Rest in inner peace

Gently chant ram ram
see the crows elegant flight
rest in inner peace!

Friday, November 02, 2012

Formal expositions of simple truths

All high end philosophical works (like yoga sutras / brahma sutras / gita etc) are merely formal expositions of simple truths like honesty, sincerity, love, compassion, discipline etc. Formal expositions are great to have and know for complex life situations make our simple truths simplistic leading to delusion. Knowledge of formal expositions will guide us then. But, one needs to guard against craving to have scholarly understanding of these works and / or looking up to anyone having it. That simply isnt the point.

Thursday, November 01, 2012

Lower self and chakravyuha

Every desire of the lower self is an invitation into a chakravyuha. Entry possible but no exit. But that is ok. Only when we get caught in one or two such chakravyuhas do we truly understand the nature of duality and appreciate the subtler higher self and grow to be able to access it.